Kris Draper's move to left wing is working out well for former center and Red Wings

AP PhotoDetroit Red Wings forward Kris Draper, left, says this is as good as he has felt in years.DETROIT -- Moving to the wing and getting paired with young, fast and energetic linemates has rejuvenated Detroit Red Wings forward Kris Draper.

After struggling last season, Draper has bounced back strong, saying this is as good as he has felt in years.

"Personally, it's been fun,'' Draper said. "I was obviously frustrated with the way things went last year. I forgot about it and just wanted to come back and play hard. Right now, things are going pretty good.''

A center most of his career, the 38-year-old Draper was shifted to left wing during training camp and has played mostly on a line with Darren Helm and Patrick Eaves. After posting a career-worst minus-13 rating last season, Draper is back in positive numbers, with a plus-3 rating. He also is chipping in offensively, with four goals and five assists in 25 games.

"I think Drapes has been way better since we moved him to the wing,'' Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "I don't know if he's just relaxed or skating more, but he's playing a lot and playing well. He's always important to our team because of his leadership ability, but the way he's playing right now, he's really helping out. Eaves and him got a good combination going.''

Draper is enjoying the move to the wing. He misses taking faceoffs regularly -- he has been among the league's annual faceoff percentage leaders -- but still manages to take some key draws. He won all seven of his faceoffs in Monday's 4-1 victory against Dallas and has won 54 percent of his draws this season (75-of-139).

"It was a new challenge for me. I'm getting used to doing some different things,'' Draper said. "It's been fun playing with Helmer. Usually, Eaver's been on the right side, and the three of us enjoy playing with one another.''

While the wingers on the top two lines haven't produced as much as expected, the club has gotten good play out of its third and fourth lines.

"We have two lines that control the puck, do so many good things, and then the third and fourth lines bring in a lot of energy,'' Draper said. "We're creating chances, we're chipping in goals. Anytime you got four lines that are rolling and playing hard like that, you're a tougher team to play against.''

Notable, quotableRed Wings center Valtteri Filppula had the hard cast removed from his broken right wrist and replaced with a soft cast. He is looking forward to increasing the tempo during his solo skating sessions and return to practice in a couple weeks.

He said he hopes be back in the lineup "at the end of December, if everything goes well.''

The Red Wings experienced one of their better games in the faceoff circle Monday, winning 28-of-42 draws against a team that was ranked 27th in the league in faceoffs (47.3 percent).

"Faceoffs are a huge part of the game,'' Stars center Steve Ott said. "If you're chasing the puck from the draw, it makes for a long night.''

The Red Wings have outshot their opponent in seven consecutive games and have been outshot only five times.

"When you're struggling, you have to continue to shoot the puck, you can't be looking at passing up shots when there's an opportunity,'' Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "We said we're going to get some breaks and it's going to turn. It finally did the last game and (Monday), too.''